Elder (Church Leader) Selection

[Van]

One of the disagreements within churches is "who selects the elders?" The top down, I am holier than thou, folks want to choose who serves, and at the other end of the spectrum are the "priesthood of believers" folks who believe folks are called to church leadership positions through the membership as influenced by the Holy Spirit. One claim, Elders were appointed, top down, by Paul and others, but deacons were elected, seems challenged by using a more literal translation of Acts 14:23.

Here we have a compound word, literally meaning hand stretching. But the word is used to indicate taking a vote by a show of hands to select someone for something.

Acts 14:23, When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.​

Here, this rendering misses the information of how the elders were selected, i.e. by a show of hands, a vote of the members. A far more complete translation would read, When they had selected elders for them by a show of hands in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

2 Corinthians 8:19 and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness,​

Again the vote is obliterated in the rendering, whereas a literal translation would read, “but he has also been selected by a show of hands by the churches….”

Word Studies bring to light where versions hit the mark and where they miss the mark.
The idea is not to quibble over this word or that word, but to bring to light that we can grow more aware of God’s Word by doing objective and unbiased word studies.

In the above example, G5500, cheirotoneō has been used to present less than the best translation choices by some of our English versions.

 

[Van]

One of the ways to enhance translation transparency is to minimize the number of times the same English word or phrase is used to translate different original language words. For example, when we see "Hell" in a translation, we do not know whether Hades or Gehenna is in view. The use of a single word for both obliterates any intended distinction.

Another word used to translate multiple Greek words is "Appointed." Using the NASB simply as one of many examples, the word appointed appears about 30 times in the NT. However about 14 different Greek word were translated those 30 times into "appointed." Sometimes those appointments were unilateral, such as God choosing beforehand, or unilaterally appointing Paul as the light to the Gentiles. At other times the arrangement is agreed upon, thus by mutual consent, as in Acts of the Apostles 13:48.

This level of a lack of transparency is unnecessary.

 

[Van]

Ambiguous translation fosters confusion and therefore is not of God. We may not be able to avoid it, but an objective effort to minimize it seems useful.

 

[Van]

Luke 1:8 (NASB) reads:

Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,​

However the word translated appointed order simply refers to the order of his duties according to his routine. Thus appointed can be removed, such that the verse reads in the order of his routine. One down, 10 or so to go.

 

[Van]

Luke 10:1 NASB:
Now after this the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.

Here the word translated as appointed actually means to proclaim or exhibit or announce something. Thus "announce" can be used for both usages of this word in the NT.

Now after this the Lord announced seventy-two others... See Acts 1:24 for the other usage of this word.

 

[Van]

Act 1:7
But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority;

Here the NASB translators added a redundant word (appointed) as the verse says the Father had set the times or seasons.

So "It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father as set by His own authority"

 

[Salty]

Just a thought - were the ways of appointing elders in the NT - a command - a recommendation - or just a simple way of doing so?

At our church - I am the (only) pastor and we have no elders - or deacons
as there are no qualified men to hold the position.
and yes, we are a very small church

 

[37818]

Acts of the Apostles 14:24, ". . . And when they had them voting for elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. . . ."

χειροτονησαντες votes by raised hands

 

[canadyjd]

Just a thought - were the ways of appointing elders in the NT - a command - a recommendation - or just a simple way of doing so?

At our church - I am the (only pastor) and we have no elders - or deacons
as there are no qualified men to hold the position.
and yes, we are a very small church

In most cases, I see the guidance found in the NT as regulating our efforts in our churches rather than simply offering one suggestion out of many.

The exception, I suppose, is the early church operating “communally”, that is members sold all their property and gave to the common need. That may be practical in some places today, but could lead to problems. I think Paul warned that those who would not work should not eat, which may have been a consequence of early communal living.

You are the lead elder. As such, you are responsible, at a minimum, for teaching/training. You should be mentoring someone (or two) to take the position of elder to help you with decision making and other leadership roles.

Look for men doing some ministry in church or out. They are your deacons (whether recognized as such or not). Once you have found someone, guide them into a specific function within the church. It could be teaching or finance, or stewardship of the property (keeping up with monthly bills and maintenance).

After a reasonable time of guidance, bring him before the church to be recognized as an elder. Have a ceremony, have the church vote, lay in hands and pray for him. Then have a meal.

God’s blessings in this effort

peace to you

 

[Van]

Just a thought - were the ways of appointing elders in the NT - a command - a recommendation - or just a simple way of doing so?

At our church - I am the (only) pastor and we have no elders - or deacons
as there are no qualified men to hold the position.
and yes, we are a very small church

So you neglect the laying of of hands by the Elders, plural? 1 Tim. 4:14

Acts 14:23 says elders were appointed (selected by a show of hands) in "every" church.

Titus 1:5 seems to say that establishing "elders" plural is not a suggestion but direction.